Covid break set backs…
We took a COVID break from classes at MLF (they cancelled a session as instructed and was necessary). Being responsible. So, I thought this would be a fabulous opportunity to work at home on drills. I decided just to try to practice in the back yard which is about 25 ft by 40 ft. We have a few little jumps, a contact trainer that my husband built, and a tunnel. A couple of cones for Stevie. Oh, and weave poles. I thought I was being a genius by working specific moves and exercises that we really don’t get a chance to do as repeated practice in class. You know, to stay sharp… come back with tighter wraps and blinds etc.
It didn’t work out the way I had hoped.
When we went back to formal class this week, I couldn’t get AJ to leave my side. He had become so used to our tight space work this past six weeks that every time I tried to let him just “see the line” and go on the big field, he looked at me like I was speaking another language. No independence AT ALL. Granted, his threadles and back sides were flawless, but I couldn’t get him weave on his own or even go from a jump to a tunnel without turning to look at me to see if that’s what I REALLY wanted.
And Stevie… while Stevie is now a weave pro, our fast paced practice at home has left her bored in class and absolutely unwilling to wait her turn. “Go to my place? Ha. Why would I do that when there are dogs and equipment here to play with?” “Silly human. I’m not going to just sit here while THAT dog takes a turn. Bored now. Ohhh. Butterfly.”
Talk about a backfire. I feel like we’ve lost 6 months worth of work and I’m not sure what to do. Even Cindy, our coach, mentioned that AJ seemed to have lost his spark. I was so worried that somehow I had made this “work” instead of play and I had ruined everything.
Then I started to run. As fast as I could. Suddenly he seemed excited again. I didn’t make him stop at the contacts or anything, we just ran the course and my boy was pretty much back. Oh thank gawd. He was bouncy and excited and leaped the jumps like a gazelle again instead of standing there to see what exactly I wanted him to do at the jump. Tunnel. Heck ya, see you on the other side.
So, now I have to figure out how to blend that enthusiasm and attitude with independence and the precision we had practicing with the drills. Can it be done or is it something that once a dog has learned things one way he in that vein for the rest of his training? Hmph. I hate not having all the answers.
